Metering valve and control means therefor



1 1951v w. s. LANDON I 2,564,438

METERING VALVE AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed May 15, 1947 INVENTOR.

43 WALTER s. LANDON,

- BY DECEASED, BY r MARION E. LANDON,ADM)0 in ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1951 METERING VALVE; AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Walter 'S..Landon, .deceased,. late of Detroit, Mich., by Marion :13. Landon, administratrix, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Detroit Lubricator Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May 15, 1947, Serial No. 748,303

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to metering valves in general and more particularly to control means therefor.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a control means for a valve metering .fuel to a burner whereby an automatic .adjustmentof said valve may be obtained responsive to the heat output of said burner and a manual adjustment means for determining th range of heat output to which said automatic means will respond.

Another object of this invention is to provide a control means for a valve metering fuel to .a burner supplyingheat to aliquid container whereby constant regulation of temperature of said liquid may be obtained.

Another object of this invention is to provide a control means which is of simple construction, efficient operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawing to be taken as a part of this specification there is clearly and fully illustrated a preferred embodiment of this invention in which drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the metering valve and control with its cover plate removed;

Fig. 2 is a view taken in section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the operating parts in the intermediate position;

Fig. 3 is a detail viewin section taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view in elevation-of the snap acting lever mechanism for operating the valve and showing the power element structure in a broken section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the lever mechanism actuating the metering valve stem and is taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to drawing by character of reference, the numeral I refers to a metering valve and control device having a casing 2. The casing '2 is constructed in the form of a rectangle with curved ends having a closed lower wall (not shown) and closed on top by a cover plate 3. A cylindrical housing portion 4 extending upward through the cover plate 3 encloses the actuating mechanism of a valve control. The cylindrical housing portion 4 has a vertical cylindrical passageway 5 .th'erethrough. -A hollow cylinderm'emher 6 is carried in the passageway 5 and surrounds a portion of an actuating plunger '1. The cylinder member .8 has a flange portion 8 bent over upon and to rigidly hold a sleeve member 9 and :a hat-shaped diaphragm Ill surrounding a portion of the plunger l. A hat-shaped bearing member I l surrounds the flange portion 8 and is urged towards a downward position by aspring l2 bearing against the lower wall surface l3 of .the cylindrical passageway 5. The plunger '1 has a collar l4 enclosed by an inverted hat-shaped bearing member I5. A spring i6 is positioned between the bearing member [5 and the lower wall 11 of the housing portion 4 urging the plunger 1 towards an upward position. The inner wall of the cylinder member 6 and the outer surface of the hat-shaped diaphragm It) enclose a chamber l8 .having an inlet opening 59. A tube 20 runs to a thermostatic bulb 2| containing a thermoresponsive fluid. Projecting from the upper wall of the housing portion 4 is a cylindrical cam 22 having a cylindrical passageway therethrough which is an extension of the passageway :55. A knob-shaped cam follower 23 partially surrounds the cam 22 and extends into the passageway 5. The knob 23 has an internal rib portion 2*3 which rides on the cam 22. The knob 23 has a cylindrical passageway 24 in which is positioned an adjusting member 25 by which the knob 23 is attached to a threaded portion 26 of the cylinder member 6. The plunger 1 has a shoulder I which bears against a flange portion '2? of a lever 21 which is fulcrumed on a pin 28. Movement of the plunger l against the lever 21 is resisted by a spring 29. Another lever 38 is fulorumed on the pin 28 and bears through two :a'dlusting screws 3! and 32 against a plate member 33 on a valve stem 34. An arm 350i the lever 30 straddles a fixed bracket 35 which limits both upward and downward movementof thelever 3E. The lever 27 has a rebent end portion 3! against which is positioned a spring 33 which bears against a second arm 39 of the lever it. The plunger .7 has another shoulder portion l which engages a flange portion 30 of the lever 38 on extreme upward movement of the plunger 7.. The adjusting screws 3! and 32 have disc members so and 4! positioned thereon which limit the range of movement of the screws by engagement with a stop pin 42. The valve stem 3t seats in :closed position against a valve seat portion :23 of the lower wall of the housing 2 and is urged toward open position by a spring .34 abutting the plate member 33. The position of the valve stem 35 only the screw 31 is in engagement with the valve plate 33. By adjustment of the screw 3| the extent of pilot opening can be adjusted. By the use of two screws 31 and 32 as described it is possible to adjust the extent of high-fire and pilot openings independently of each other, an adjustment which would be practically impossible to obtain if there were only a single point of thrust between the thermostatic actuating mechanism and the valve member.

Inasmuch as this metering valve control device is designed primarily for the automatic control of the heating of domestic hot water supply, the

operation to be described hereinafter will be in terms of such an application. The description of the operation of this device in this particular application, however, is not to be considered as limiting the scope of this invention to this particular usage.

In operation this invention functions as follows:

The thermostatic bulb element 2| is normally attached to or positioned in the hot water tank and functions to control the metering of fuel to the burner heating said hot water tank. Application of heat to the bulb element 21 will cause a fluid pressure therein to be transmitted to the chamber l8 causing the hat-shaped diaphragm ID to move the plunger 1 downward. Downward movement of the plunger 1 will cause clock-wise rotation of the lever 21 about its fulcrum 28 upon engagement of the shoulder l of the plunger 7 against the flange 2'! projecting upward from the plane of the lever 27. As th lever 21 rotates, the end portion 31 moves upward causing the spring 38 to move over center thereby moving the lever 38 downward to close the valve stem 34 to pilot closed position. If the temperature in the hot water tank cools, fluid pressure in the chamber 18 is reduced permitting the spring iii to move the plunger upward so that the spring 2% can rotate the lever 27 in a counterclock-wise direction. Movement of the end portion 37 of the lever 2! downward will cause the spring 38 to move over center thus moving the lever 38 in a clockwise direction thereby actuating the valve stem 34 to an open position with a snap action. Upward and downward movement of the lever 39 controlling the valve stem 34 is limited by the limiting bracket 36 enclosed by the bifurcated portion of the arm portion 35 of the lever 30. Individual settings of temperatures for the thermostatic bulb element 26 are obtained by movement of the knob-shaped cam follower 23. Movement of the knob 23 will cause the cylinder portion 6 to be moved upward or downward thus changing the pressure exerted on the plunger 1 and, if the power element pressure is sulficiently great relative to the force of spring [6 or if a completely filled liquid charge is used in the power element, actually moving the plunger 1 and thereby determining the temperature to which the bulb 2| will respond. The amount of fuel which can be metered at either full open or pilot closed position may be adjusted by an adjustment of the bearing screws 32 and 3| respectively which determine the position of the valve stem 34 at these extremes of movement. The shoulder l of the plunger 1 functions as a safety means in cooperation with the flange portion 30 of the lever 30 in the event of a failure of the system enclosing the thermostatic fluid. In the event of such a failure the plunger 1 would move upward causing the shoulder 1* to engage the flange portion 30 thus moving the lever 30 in a counter-clockwise direction closing the valve.

What is claimed and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device of the character described, a metering valve having a stem for controlling flow of fuel to a burner, said burner supplying heat to an enclosed space, a plunger for actuating said valve stem, a hollow cylinder enclosing one end portion of said plunger, a flexible diaphragm enclosing said one end portion, said diaphragm sealing said hollow cylinder and forming a cup shaped chamber, a thermostatic bulb element containing a fluid responsive to the temperature of said enclosed space, said bulb element communicating with said hollow cylinder and being operable to move said plunger by the application of fluid pressure to said cup shaped chamber, a lever for transmitting movement of said plunger, a second lever for moving said valve stem, a spring operatively connecting said first named and said second named levers, said spring being operable to cause a snap action of said valve stem to open Or to pilot closed position upon a predetermined movement of said first named lever, a manually operable cam operable to move said hollow cyling thus controlling the fluid pressure in said cup shaped chamber and the position of said plunger and thereby determining the temperature to which said thermostatic bulb will respond, and means carried by said second named lever to determine the amount of fluid metered by said Valve at full open and at pilot closed positions.

2. In a device of the character described, a metering valve having a stem for controlling flow of fuel to a burner, said burner supplying heat to an enclosed space, a plunger for actuating said valve stem, a hollow cylinder enclosing one end portion of said plunger, a flexible diaphragm enclosing said one end portion, said diaphragm sealing said hollow cylinder and forming a cup shaped chamber, a thermostatic bulb element containing a fluid responsive to the temperature of said enclosed space, said bulb element communicating with said hollow cylinder, and being operable to move said plunger by the application of fluid pressure to said cup shaped chamber, a lever for transmitting movement of said plunger, a second lever for moving said valve stem, a spring operatively connecting said first named and said second named levers, said sprin being operable to cause a snap action of said valve stem to open or to pilot closed position upon a predetermined movemerit of said first named lever, a manually 0perable cam operable to move said hollow cylinder thus controlling the fluid pressure in said cup shaped chamber and the position of said plunger and thereby determining the temperature to which said thermostatic bulb will respond, and adjustable abutments carried by said second named lever operable to control the limits of movement of said valve stem thus determining the amount of fluid metered by said valve at full open and at pilot closed positions.

3. In a device of the character described, a metering valve for controlling flow of fuelto a burner and having a valve stem, a lever for moving said valve stem to open and to closed positions, thermostatic means operable upon movement in one direction to move said lever in a valve opening direction and upon movement in the opposite direction to move said lever in a valve closing direction, and safety means 00- positions, a second lever, a spring interposed between said levers and operable upon predetermined movement of said second lever in one direction to move said first lever in the opposite direction with a snap movement, thermostatic means for moving said second lever for actuating said first lever to open and to close said valve, and safety means operated by said thermostatic means and operable upon predetermined move ment or" the same in a valve opening direction to engage said first lever and transmit movement from said thermostatic means to said lever in a valve closing direction.

5. In a device of the character described, a metering valve for controlling flow of fuel to a burner and having a valve stem, a first lever for moving said valve stem to open and to closed positions, a second lever, a spring interposed betwen said levers and operable upon predetermined movement of said second lever in one direction to move said first lever in the opposite direction with a snap movement, thermostatic means including an operating plunger engageable with and operable to move said second lever for actuating said first lever to open and to close said valve, and said plunger having a projection operable upon predetermined movement by said thermostatic means in a valve opening direction to engage and move said first lever in a valve ClOSlIlg direction.

6. In a device of the character described, a metering valve for controlling flow of fuel to a burner and having a valve stem, a spring cooperable with said valve stem to urge the same in a valve opening direction, a first lever operatively engageable with said valve stem and operable upon movement in one direction to permit said valve to open and upon movement in the opposite direction to positively engage said valve stem and move said valve to closed position, a second lever, a second spring interposed between said levers in an over-center position, said second lever and said second spring bein operable upon movement to an overcenter position in one direction to move said first lever in the opposite direction with a snap movement, an operating plunger engageable with said second lever for moving the same to control valve operation, a fluid charged power element operable to move said plunger for automatically controlling valve operation, and said plunger having a projection engageable with said first lever to close said valve upon predetermined movement in a valve opening direction so that said valve may be closed in the event of power element leakage.

7. In a device of the character described, a

metering valve for controlling flow of fuel to a burner and having a valve stem, a first lever for moving said valve stem to open and to closed positions, a pair of abutments carried by said lever for transmitting thrust to said valve stem, one of said abutments being operatively engageable with said valve stem in a valve open position and the other abutment engaging said stem in valve closed position, said abutments being adjustable so that the extent of valve opening at open and at closed positions maybe independently varied, thermostatic means operable upon movement in one direction to move said lever in a valve opening direction and upon movement in the opposite direction to move said lever in a valve closing direction, and safety means operable by said thermostatic means upon predetermined movement of the same in said one direction to move said lever in a valve closing direction.

8. In a device of the character described, a metering valve for controlling flow of fuel to a burner and having a valve stem, a spring cooperable with said valve stem to urge the same in a valve opening direction, a first lever operatively engageable with said valve stem and operable upon movement in one direction to permit said valve to open and upon movement in the opposite direction to positively engage said valve stem and move said valve to closed position, a pair of abutments carried by said lever for transmitting thrust to said valve stem, one of said abutments being operatively engageable with said valve stem in a valve open position and the other abutment engaging said stem in valve closed position, said abutments being adjustable so that the extent of valve opening at open and at closed positions may be independently varied, a second lever, a second spring inter-posed between said levers in an ove'rcenter position, said second lever and said second spring being operable upon movement to an overcenter position in one direction to move said first lever in the opposite direction with a snap movement, an operating plunger engageable with said second lever for moving the same to control valve operation, a fluid charged power element operable to move said plunger for automatically controlling valve operation, and said plunger having a projection engageable with said first lever to close said valve upon predetermined movement in a valve opening direction so that said valve may be closed in the event of power element leakage.

9. In a device of the character described, a valve casing having an outlet valve port, a meter-- ing valve cooperable with said port to control flow therethrough and having a valve stem, a lever pivotally positioned in said casing and engageable With said valve stem for controlling movement of the same, a power element structure for moving said lever comprising a hollow housing carried by said valve casing, a hollow power element casing having an open end carried in said housing and operable to have reciprocal movement therein, an operating plunger operatively engageable with said lever at one end for moving the same and having its other end extending into said power element casing, a diaphragm closin the open end of said power element casing and surrounding said plunger other end and forming with said power element casing a cup-shaped pressure chamber, a conduit opening into said cup-shaped chamber at one end and having a bulb element secured on its other end; said bulb element, said conduit, and said cup-shaped chamber enclosing a thermostatic fluid for actuating said plunger in response to temperature external of said valve casing; said conduit having a portion of its length coiled around said power element casing within said housing to permit movement of said power element casing without damage to said conduit, and an adjustment member carried by said housing and engageable with said power element casing to move said power element casing and said plunger thereby to determine the temperature of response of said valve.

10. In a device of the character described, a valve casing having an outlet valve port, a metering valve cooperable with said port to control flow therethrough and having a valve stem, a lever pivotally positioned in said casing and engageable with said valve stem for controlling movement of the same, a second lever for operating said first-named lever, a spring compressively positioned between said levers in an overcenter relation, said second lever and said spring being operable upon movement overcenter in one direction to move said first-named lever in the opposite direction with a snap movement, a power element structure for moving said second lever comprising a hollow housing carried by said valve casing, a hollow power element casing having an open end carried in said housing and operable to have reciprocal movement therein, an operating plunger operatively engageable with said lever at one end for moving the same and having its other end extending into said power element casing, a diaphragm closing the open end of said power element casing and surrounding said plunger other end and forming with said power element casing a cupshaped pressure chamber, a conduit opening into said cup-shaped chamber at one end and having a bulb element secured on its other end; said bulb element, said conduit, and said cupshaped chamber enclosing a thermostatic fluid for actuating said plunger in response to temperature external of said valve casing; said conduit having a portion of its length coiled around said power element casing within said housing to permit movement of said power element casing without damage to said conduit, and an adjustment member carried by said housing and engageable with said power element casing to move said power element casing and said plunger thereby to determine the temperature of response of said valve.

11. In a device of the character described, a metering valve having a stem for controlling flow of fuel to a burner, said burner supplying heat to an enclosed space, thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of said enclosed space and operable to actuate said metering valve stem, a spring operable as snap acting means to transmit movement from said thermostatic means to said metering valve stem to move the same to a full open or to a closed position, and safety means cooperable with said thermostatic means upon predetermined movement of said thermostatic means in a valve opening direction to transmit movement from said thermostatic means to said valve stem to move the same to closed position.

12. In an operating mechanism a first operating lever, a second operating lever, a toggle spring interposed between said levers, an oper= ating member engageable with said second lever to move said second lever and. said toggle spring for actuation of said first lever, said first lever being pivoted by said toggle spring in the opposite direction relative to said second lever upon movement thereof, and said operating member having a portion engageable with said first lever upon predetermined movement in one direction to move the same independently of and in the opposite direction relative to its normal movement by said second lever and toggle spring.

MARION E. LANDON, Administratrix of Walter S. Landon, deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain of 1907 

